Abdominal Radiography

Hospitalized patients in a critical care environment are at risk for adverse intra-abdominal events involving bowel, solid organs, and vasculature. For assessment of hospitalized patients with abdominal pain, a thorough history and physical examination should precede indicated laboratory testing and imaging studies. One expedient means of evaluation is abdominal radiography. In very ill patients, it can be performed at the bedside. Because of its ready availability and occasional definitive diagnostic information, however, abdominal radiography often is the first imaging study performed. Ideally, a supine frontal image is supplemented with an upright or left lateral decubitus (left-side down) frontal view.